Phillip II was one of the most effective French monarchs in history. He substantially expanded France's territorial might, mostly through tactful and decisive victories over England, which was the only real threat to France's power at the time. Phillip effectively reorganized the French government, keeping taxes and fees low. This allowed for rapid economic expansion that resulted in the first signs of a working middle class in France. Phillip's entire reign revolved around his convictions that French prosperity should benefit all French citizens rather than just the nobles and clergymen. He sought to balance the power of the nobles and the commoners, and by the time of his death the commoners of France were much better off than they were when his reign first began. Phillip II was also largely responsible for the development of Paris, which would thereafter serve as the French capital. In the final analysis, Phillip II was clearly a highly influential king that expanded the French Empire drastically while seeking to ensure that France's power and prosperity benefitted all French citizens.
